Aligning method of ferroelectric liquid crystal display and ferroelectric liquid crystal display apparatus using the same

ABSTRACT

An aligning method of a ferroelectric liquid crystal display includes; disposing a first mask and a second mask, each of which has opening regions and blocking regions arranged in alternating fashion in vertical direction and horizontal direction corresponding to liquid crystal cells of the liquid crystal display; and injecting a ferroelectric liquid crystal material within the liquid crystal panel.

The present invention claims the benefit of Korean Patent ApplicationNo. P2002-79984 filed in Korea on Dec. 14, 2002, which is herebyincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a ferroelectric liquid crystal display,and more particularly to an aligning method of ferroelectric liquidcrystal display.

2. Description of the Related Art

Generally, liquid crystal displays (LCDs) display pictures by applyingelectric fields to a layer of liquid crystal material in response to anapplied video signal, wherein the applied electric field controls theorientation of the liquid crystal molecules within the layer of liquidcrystal material. The liquid crystal material within LCDs exhibits anintermediate material phase between solid and liquid phases whereinliquid crystal molecules exhibit both fluidity and elasticity.

Currently, the most common type of liquid crystal material used in LCDsinclude twisted nematic mode (TN mode) liquid crystal material. Althoughthe response speed of the TN mode LCDs can vary in accordance withphysical properties of the liquid crystal material, cell gap, etc., theresponse time for TN mode LCDs is generally greater than one pictureframe of about 16.67 ms (according to the National Television SystemCommittee NTSC). Accordingly, moving images displayed by TN mode LCDsoften appear blurred and can include undesirable contour trails. Toovercome the aforementioned problems, TN mode liquid crystal materialcan be replaced by ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) material having aresponse speed generally greater than that of TN mode liquid crystalmaterial. Therefore, LCDs injected with FLC material can display highquality moving pictures.

FLC material exhibits a lamellar structure, wherein each layer of FLCmaterial has the same electric and magnetic properties. Accordingly,when FLC material is driven, molecules of FLC material within the samelayer spontaneously rotate (i.e., polarize) along a virtual cone inresponse to an applied electric field. In the absence of an appliedelectric field, molecules within the FLC material spontaneously polarizeto an original alignment orientation. Accordingly, when externalelectric fields are applied to the FLC material, molecules within theFLC material rotate rapidly by interaction of an external field andexhibit spontaneous polarization. The response speed of FLC material istypically between a hundred or a thousand times faster than other modesof liquid crystal material. Further, FLC material has an inherentin-plane-switching property and can therefore be used to provide LCDswith wide viewing angles without special electrode structures orcompensation films. Depending on its behavior in the presence of appliedelectric fields, FLC material may be classified as V-Switching or HalfV-Switching Modes.

V-Switching Mode FLC material exhibits the following thermodynamic phasetransformations upon decreasing temperature: isotropic→smectic A phase(SA)→smectic X phase (Sm X*)→crystalline. In the isotropic phase,molecules within the FLC material are oriented and distributedsubstantially isotropically (e.g., randomly). In the smectic A phase(SA) phase, molecules within the FLC material are divided intosymmetrically arranged layers of vertically arranged molecules. In thesmectic X phase (Sm X*) phase, molecules within the FLC material arearranged according to an intermediate order between smectic A andcrystalline phases.

FIG. 1 illustrates a graph for the transmissivity of incident lightversus voltage applied to a V-Switching Mode ferroelectric liquidcrystal cell. As shown in FIG. 1, the transmissivity of light incidentto a V-Switching Mode FLC cell exhibiting the smectic X phase (Sm X*) isdependent upon the polarity of an applied driving data voltage (e.g., +Vand −V). Accordingly, the arrangement of liquid crystal molecules withinV-Switching Mode FLC material may be affected by the applied externalvoltage. V-Switching Mode FLC material beneficially has high responsespeed and wide viewing angle characteristics but disadvantageouslyrequires a large amount of power in order to be driven because acapacitance value of the V-Switching Mode FLC material is relativelylarge. Therefore, a capacitance value of a storage capacitor used tomaintain applied data voltages is also large. Accordingly, ifV-Switching Mode FLC material is used LCDs, an aperture ratio of the LCDbecomes low since the power consumption of LCD and an electrode area ofa sub-capacitor increases. Half V-Switching Mode FLC materialbeneficially has a high response speed and wide viewing anglecharacteristics and a relatively low capacitance value. Therefore, HalfV-Switching Mode FLC material is often used to display moving pictures.

FIG. 2 illustrates phase transformations of Half V-Switching Modeferroelectric liquid crystal material. As shown in FIG. 2, when thetemperature decreases below the phase transformation temperature (Tni),Half V-Switching Mode FLC material exhibits a phase transformation fromthe isotropic to the nematic phase (N*), below phase transformationtemperature (Tsn), the Half V-Switching Mode FLC material exhibits aphase transformation from the nematic phase (N*) to the smectic C phase(Sm C*), and below phase transformation temperature (Tcs) the HalfV-Switching Mode FLC material exhibits a phase transformation from thesmectic C phase to the crystalline phase. Therefore, as the temperaturedecreases, Half V-Switching Mode FLC material exhibits the followingthermodynamic phase transformations: isotropic→nematic (N*)→smectic Cphase (Sm C*)→crystalline.

FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 illustrate the fabrication of a liquid crystal cellincluding Half V-Switching Mode FLC material. Referring to FIG. 3 andFIG. 4, Half V-Switching Mode FLC material is typically injected into aliquid crystal cell at a temperature above Tni. Accordingly, when theHalf V-Switching Mode FLC material is injected into the liquid crystalcell, molecules within the FLC material are oriented and distributedsubstantially isotropically (e.g., randomly). When the temperature ofthe FLC material goes below Tni, molecules within the FLC materialbecome aligned substantially parallel to each other along a directiondictated by the rubbing direction of an orientation layer and the FLCmaterial exhibits the nematic phase (N*). If the temperature of the FLCmaterial is further lowered the temperature below Tsn in the presence ofan electric field, the FLC material exhibits the smectic phase (C*) andthe liquid crystal molecules spontaneously polarize along the directionof the applied electric field to exhibit a monostable state, whereinliquid crystal molecules uniformly assume one of two possible moleculararrangements. If, on the other hand, the temperature of the FLC materialis lowered below Tsn in the absence of an applied electric field, theliquid crystal molecules become separated into layers to exhibit abistable state, wherein liquid crystal molecules within each layeruniformly assume one of the two possible molecular arrangements.Further, the distribution of the molecular arrangements within thelayers is substantially random. In view of the above, it is generallymore difficult to uniformly control of the FLC material exhibiting thebistable state than to uniformly control of the FLC material exhibitingthe monostable state. Accordingly, the Half V-Mode FLC cells aregenerally fabricated to exhibit the monostable state by cooling the FLCmaterial below Tsn in the presence of an electric filed generated byapplying a small direct current (DC) voltage to the LCD panel.

Referring still to FIG. 3, the symbol “{circle around (x)}” describesthe direction of the applied electric field as extending out of theplane of the illustration. Therefore the spontaneous polarizationdirection of the FLC material also extends out of the plane of theillustration. Accordingly, electrodes used to generate the appliedelectric field are formed on upper and lower plates of the liquidcrystal cell, extending out of the plane of the illustration. Further,the orientation layer described above is formed on the upper and lowerplates.

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate the dependence of light transmissivity on avoltage applied to a Half V-Switching Mode FLC cell. Referring to FIG.5A, Half V-Switching Mode FLC cells containing FLC material aligned inthe presence of an applied electric field generated by a voltage havinga negative polarity (−V) (i.e., fabricated in the presence of anelectric field having a negative polarity), transmit light in thepresence of an applied voltage having a positive polarity (+V) byrotating a polarization axis of the light by 90°. The lighttransmissivity of the Half V-Switching Mode FLC cell increasesproportionally to the intensity of an applied positive electric fieldgenerated by the positive voltage (+V). Further, the lighttransmissivity of the Half V-Switching Mode FLC cell attains a maximumvalue when the intensity of the applied positive electric field isgreater than a fixed threshold value of the FLC material. In thepresence of an applied voltage having a negative voltage (−V), the HalfV-Switching Mode FLC cell does not rotate the polarization axis of thelight. Accordingly, in the presence of an applied voltage having anegative polarity, the Half V-Switching Mode FLC cell transmitssubstantially no light (i.e., the Half V-Switching Mode FLC cellintercepts the light).

Referring to FIG. 5B, Half V-Switching Mode FLC cells containing FLCmaterial aligned in the presence of an applied electric field generatedby a voltage having a positive polarity (+V) (i.e., fabricated in thepresence of an electric field having a positive polarity), transmitlight in the presence of an applied voltage having a negative polarity(−V). Further, in the presence of an applied voltage having a positivepolarity (+V), the Half V-Switching Mode FLC cell does not rotate thepolarization axis of the light. Accordingly, in the presence of anapplied voltage having a positive polarity, the Half V-Switching ModeFLC cell intercepts the light.

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate the orientation directions of HalfV-Switching Mode FLC material in the presence of applied electric fieldsused to fabricate the liquid crystal cell and applied electric fieldsused to drive the liquid crystal cell, respectively. Referring to FIG.6A, when the Half V-Switching Mode FLC cell is fabricated in thepresence of an externally applied electric field generated by a voltagehaving a negative polarity, the spontaneous polarization direction (Ps)of FLC material becomes uniformly aligned to the direction of theexternally applied electric field having the negative polarity (E(−)).As shown in FIG. 6B, if, during a subsequent driving of the LCD panel,an electric field having a positive polarity (e.g., an electric fieldgenerated by applying a voltage having a positive polarity to the LCDpanel) (E(+)) is applied to the fabricated Half V-Switching Mode FLCcell, the FLC material spontaneously polarizes along a spontaneouspolarization direction (Ps) uniformly aligned with the direction of theapplied electric field having the positive polarity. Accordingly, apolarization state of light incident to a lower plate of the LCD panelmay be rotated to substantially align with the polarization direction ofan upper polarizer on an upper plate via the FLC material, having thespontaneous polarization direction (Ps) uniformly aligned with theexternally applied electric field having the positive polarity, and theincident light is transmitted through the upper plate. If, however,during driving of the LCD panel, the applied external electric field isgenerated by an applied voltage having a negative polarity (and thusitself has a negative polarity (E(−)), or if, during driving, noelectric field is applied, the FLC material remains uniformly alignedalong its initial spontaneous polarization direction (Ps) (characterizedby the applied electric field having the negative polarity) and theincident light beam is not transmitted through the upper plate (i.e.,the light is intercepted by the liquid crystal cell).

If, during fabrication, the entire LCD panel is uniformly aligned underan applied electric field having a single polarity (e.g., a positivepolarity (+) or a negative polarity (−)), defects may be generatedwithin the fabricated Half V-Switching Mode FLC cell when the LCD panelis driven according to an inversion driving method. Such defects may bemanifested by the lowering of a brightness of displayed pictures andflickering (e.g., blinking) of the displayed pictures. Such flickeringmay be reduced by employing inversion driving methods to drive LCDpanels, wherein the inversion driving methods also prevent a degradationof liquid crystal material within the LCD panel by inverting thepolarity of applied data voltages between predetermined periods of theLCD panel. For example, a frame inversion driving method inverts thepolarity of data voltages applied between successive frame periods at afrequency of 60 Hz, in correspondence with the frame period of 16.7 ms.A line inversion driving method inverts the polarity of data voltagesbetween successive frame periods and horizontal lines. A columninversion driving method inverts the polarity of data voltages betweensuccessive frame periods and vertical lines. Lastly, a dot inversiondriving method inverts the polarity of data voltages between successiveframe periods, horizontal lines, and vertical lines, as shown in FIGS.7A and 7B. Because the polarity of data voltages can be inverted betweensuccessive frame periods, horizontal lines, and vertical lines, the dotinversion driving method is most commonly used within LCDs to minimizeflickering.

LCDs including a plurality of Half V-Switching Mode FLC cells,fabricated in the presence of a uniformly applied electric field havinga negative polarity and arranged in a matrix pattern, may be drivenaccording to the dot inversion driving method. Accordingly, and withreference to FIGS. 8A and 8B, horizontally and vertically adjacent onesof Half V-Switching Mode FLC cells arranged within an LCD panel mayalternately transmit and intercept light because each Half V-SwitchingMode FLC cells can only transmit light in the presence of an appliedelectric field having a positive polarity. For example, odd ones of theFLC cells arranged within odd horizontal lines of liquid crystal cellsand even ones of the FLC cells arranged within even horizontal lines ofliquid crystal cells transmit light in response to an electric fieldhaving a positive polarity (+) applied during odd frames (see FIG. 8A)and intercept light in response to an electric field having a negativepolarity (−) applied during even frames (see FIG. 8B). Moreover, evenones of the FLC cells arranged within odd horizontal lines of liquidcrystal cells and odd ones of the FLC cells arranged within evenhorizontal lines of liquid crystal cells transmit light in response toan electric field having a positive polarity (+) applied during evenframes (see FIG. 8B) and intercept light in response to an electricfield having a negative polarity (−) applied during odd frames (see FIG.8A).

Referring still to FIGS. 8A and 8B, reference numerals ‘P1’ and ‘P2’indicate the polarization axes of polarization plates arranged on upperand lower substrates of the LCD panel, respectively. The polarizationaxis of each polarization plate determines polarization characteristicsof light it will transmit. As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the polarizationaxes of the upper and lower polarization plates are substantiallyperpendicular to each other. Within liquid crystal cells transmittinglight, light having a polarization direction parallel to P1 (or P2) istransmitted by an incident polarization plate, through the FLC material,and is subsequently transmitted by a display polarization plate wherethe light transmitted by the display polarization plate has apolarization direction parallel to P2 (or P1). Within the liquid crystalcells intercepting light, light having a polarization direction parallelto P1 (or P2) is transmitted by an incident polarization plate is nottransmitted to the display polarization plate having the polarizationaxis of P2 (or P1).

FIG. 9 illustrates a graph of a data voltage charged to a HalfV-Switching Mode FLC cell within an LCD panel and the correspondinglight transmissivity characteristics of the liquid crystal cell. Asshown in FIG. 9, a driving data voltage having a frequency of 60 Hz isuniformly applied to aforementioned FLC cells (e.g., FLC cellsfabricated in the presence of an applied electric field having anegative polarity) arranged within the LCD panel. Accordingly, thepolarity of the applied driving data voltage is inverted each successiveframe period of the LCD panel (i.e., 16.7 ms). As a result, the FLCcells transmit light during odd frame periods 1Fr, 3Fr, 5Fr, etc., whenthe applied driving data voltage generates an electric field having apositive polarity (e.g., when the applied driving data voltage has apositive polarity, +V), and transmits substantially no light (i.e.,intercepts light) when the applied driving data voltage generates anelectric field having a negative polarity (e.g., when the applieddriving data voltage has a negative polarity, −V). Therefore, when LCDpanels including uniformly fabricated Half V-Switching Mode FLC cellsare driven, the overall brightness of the LCD panel decreases andpictures displayed by the LCD panel appear to flicker because viewersperceive the transmitted light periodically within each frame period ofthe LCD panel.

Blurring or contour trailing occurs when the LCD panel displays movingpictures due to a slow response time of the FLC material and due topredetermined maintenance characteristics of the FLC material. Cathoderay tubes (CRTs) do not display pictures by maintaining data voltages.Rather, CRTs are a type of impulse display system capable of displayingpictures instantaneously. Accordingly, the aforementioned blurring orcontour trailing does not occur when moving pictures are displayed byCRTs. Referring to FIG. 9, CRTs display pictures by irradiatingelectrons onto a portion of a fluorescent screen for short amount oftime within each frame period. Accordingly, each portion of thefluorescent screen remains dark for a portion of each frame period. Incontrast, and with reference to FIG. 9, LCDs display pictures bycharging data voltages to liquid crystal cells during a scanning periodwhen gate high voltages (Vgh) are applied, wherein, once they arecharged, the data voltages are maintained within the liquid crystalcells until they are refreshed in a successive frame period.

If all of the ferroelectric liquid crystal cells in the ferroelectricliquid crystal display of the related art uniformly are aligned underelectric field with electric field of same polarity upon aligning underelectric field, since observers see the light only in long axisdirection or short axis direction of the liquid crystal molecule uponrotating of liquid crystal molecule, the viewing angle does not reach asatisfactory level. A problem arise in that color-inversion phenomenondepending upon the location of observers with respect to the liquidcrystal display.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to an aligning method ofa ferroelectric liquid crystal display and a ferroelectric liquidcrystal display apparatus that substantially obviates one or more of theproblems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.

An object of the present invention to provide an aligning method of aferroelectric liquid crystal display that does require an electric fieldalignment.

Another object of the present invention to provide the ferroelectricliquid crystal display capable of improving color characteristic andadaptive for implementing moving pictures.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth inthe description which follows, and in part will be apparent from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Theobjectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized andattained by the structure particularly pointed out in the writtendescription and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

To achieve these and other objects of the invention, there is providedan aligning method of ferroelectric liquid crystal display including;disposing a first mask and a second mask, each of which has openingregions and blocking regions arranged in alternating fashion in verticaldirection and horizontal direction corresponding to liquid crystal cellsof the liquid crystal display; and injecting a ferroelectric liquidcrystal material within the liquid crystal panel.

In another aspect, An aligning method of a ferroelectric liquid crystaldisplay includes the steps of: aligning an upper plate of a liquidcrystal panel by using a first mask having a first plurality of openingregions patterned thereon; aligning a lower plate of the liquid crystalpanel by using a second mask having a second plurality of openingregions patterned thereon; assembling the upper plate and the lowerplate of the liquid crystal panel; and injecting a ferroelectric liquidcrystal material between the assembled the upper and the lower plate ofthe liquid crystal panel.

In yet another aspect, a ferroelectric liquid crystal display includes:a liquid crystal panel having first regions and second regions havingrubbing directions that are respectively aligned in differentdirections, wherein the first regions and the second regions arealternately arranged in a vertical direction and horizontal direction ofthe liquid crystal panel; a ferroelectric liquid crystal injected intothe liquid crystal panel; and a multiplied-speed driving circuit fordriving the liquid crystal panel having the ferroelectric liquid crystalin accordance with a frequency multiplying predetermined referencefrequency.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and areintended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention andtogether with the description serve to explain the principles of theinvention.

FIG. 1 is a graph illustrating voltage of ferroelectric liquid crystalof V-Switching mode vs. transmissivity characteristic.

FIG. 2 illustrates a phase transition process of ferroelectric liquidcrystal of Half V-Switching mode.

FIG. 3 illustrates changes of molecule arrangement according to whetherelectric field alignment in ferroelectric liquid crystal of HalfV-Switching mode.

FIG. 4 illustrates uniform rubbing of ferroelectric liquid crystaldisplay of Half V-Switching mode of the related art.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are graphs illustrating voltage of Half V-Switching modevs. transmissivity characteristic.

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrates ferroelectric liquid crystal of HalfV-Switching mode upon aligning under electric field.

FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate dot inversion method.

FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate transmission and cutting-off in case thatferroelectric liquid crystal of Half V-Switching mode is uniformlyaligned on whole panel and is driven by dot inversion method.

FIG. 9 is a graph illustrating voltage charged to liquid crystal cellhaving ferroelectric liquid crystal material of Half V-Switching modeinjected therein upon driving at a reference frequency and lighttransmissivity corresponding to the voltage.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart sequentially illustrating manufacturing processof ferroelectric liquid crystal display according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 11 schematically illustrates masks employed in alignment process offerroelectric liquid crystal display according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 12 illustrates alignment process of ferroelectric liquid crystaldisplay according to an embodiment of the present invention andspontaneous polarization direction of the ferroelectric liquid crystal.

FIG. 13 illustrates alignment process of ferroelectric liquid crystaldisplay according to another embodiment of the present invention andspontaneous polarization direction of the ferroelectric liquid crystal.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram of a ferroelectric liquid crystal displayimplemented according to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a schematic block diagram of the data driving circuit shownin FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a detailed circuit diagram of the digital to analog convertershown in FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 illustrates voltage applied to a ferroelectric liquid crystalcell and the change of light transmissivity of the ferroelectric liquidcrystal cell in instant of multiple-speed driving of ferroelectricliquid crystal display according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of thepresent invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart sequentially illustrating manufacturing processof ferroelectric liquid crystal display according to an embodiment ofthe present invention. FIG. 11 schematically illustrates masks employedin alignment process of ferroelectric liquid crystal display accordingto an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 10, analignment method of a ferroelectric liquid crystal display according tothe embodiment of the present invention comprises injecting aferroelectric liquid crystal material in a liquid crystal cell of aliquid crystal panel, which is aligned through a rubbing process using amask such that liquid crystal molecules are arranged in a isotropicphase (S1 and S2) at an incipient temperature of approximately 100degrees Celsius.

As shown in FIG. 11, the masks are categorized into an upper mask 1 anda lower mask 2, each of which has opening regions (or windows) 1 a and 2a, and blocking regions 1 b and 2 b arranged in alternating fashion invertical direction and horizontal direction for each liquid crystalcell. The opening regions 1 a of the upper mask 1 and the openingregions 2 a of lower mask 2 are cross patterned with respect to eachother. That is, the opening regions 1 a and 2 a and the blocking regions1 b and 2 b of the upper mask 1 and the lower mask 2 are mutuallyinverted with respect to each other. Accordingly, each of the openingregions 1 a of the upper mask 1 corresponds to a liquid crystal cellshielded by one of the blocking regions 2 b of the lower mask 2, andeach of the opening regions 2 a of the lower mask 2 corresponds to aliquid crystal cell shielded by one of the blocking regions 1 b of thelower mask 1. An alignment film 3 of an upper plate and an alignmentfilm 4 of a lower plate are independently rubbed or are independentlyaligned by ultraviolet ray exposure using masks 1 and 2. An alignment byrubbing aligns the alignment films 3 and 4 by using rubbing texture toset a pre-tilt angle of the ferroelectric liquid crystal correspondingto the opening regions 1 a and 2 a of the masks 1 and 2. An alignment byultraviolet ray exposure radiates ultraviolet rays onto the alignmentfilms 3 and 4 through the opening regions 1 a and 2 a of the masks 1 and2 to thereby change molecule arrangement on a part of the alignmentfilms 3 and 4 to thereby set the pre-tilt angle of the ferroelectricliquid crystal.

At the incipient temperature, if temperature is lowered below transitiontemperature Tni in which the ferroelectric liquid crystal isphase-transited from isotropic phase to nematic phase, the arrangementof the ferroelectric liquid crystal becomes a nematic phase (N*) (S3, S4of FIG. 10). The transition temperature Tni is approximately 90° C.˜100°C. Subsequently, if the temperature is further lowered below thetransition temperature Tsn in which the ferroelectric liquid crystal isphase-transited from nematic phase to smectic C phase (Sm C*), thearrangement of the ferroelectric liquid crystal molecules is changedfrom the nematic phase (N*) to smectic C phase (Sm C*) (S5 and S6 ofFIG. 10). Herein, the transition temperature Tsn is approximately 60°C.˜80° C.

FIGS. 12 and 13 further illustrate the alignment process of using masks,as referred to in step S2 of FIG. 10. Referring to FIG. 12, thealignment process using masks according to the embodiment of the presentinvention includes rubbing different cells of the upper plate and thelower plate of the liquid crystal panel by using different mask patternson the upper plate and the lower plate. More specifically on the upperplate, odd-numbered horizontal line of odd-numbered ferroelectric liquidcrystal cells and even-numbered horizontal line of even-numberedferroelectric liquid crystal cells are rubbed in a direction, and on thelower plate, odd-numbered horizontal line of even-numbered ferroelectricliquid crystal cells and even-numbered horizontal line of odd-numberedferroelectric liquid crystal cells are rubbed in the direction identicalto that of the upper plate. As shown in FIG. 12, the upper plate and thelower plate may be rubbed in a left direction. Subsequently, if theupper plate and the lower plate of the liquid crystal panel areassembled so that the alignment films of the upper plate and the lowerplate faced each other, the rubbing direction of the ferroelectricliquid crystal cells is such that every second cell in each of thevertical direction and the horizontal direction is similar to the dotinversion scheme or opposite to the rubbing direction of adjacent liquidcrystal cells. After such a rubbing, the ferroelectric liquid crystalmaterial is injected into the liquid crystal panel, and the processes insteps S3 and S5 in FIG. 10 are performed so that the ferroelectricliquid crystal molecules are arranged into the smectic C phase (Sm C*).After the liquid crystal molecules are arranged in the smectic C phase(Sm C*), if a positive (or negative) polarity electric field is appliedto the ferroelectric liquid crystal cells through the upper plate (acommon electrode) and the lower plate (a pixel electrode) of the liquidcrystal panel, in each of the ferroelectric liquid crystal cellsadjacent to the vertical direction and the horizontal direction, theliquid crystal molecules react to the electric field of mutuallydifferent polarity to thereby rotate to opposite direction. That is, theliquid crystal molecules included in the odd-numbered horizontal line ofthe odd-numbered ferroelectric liquid crystal cell and the even-numberedhorizontal line of the even-numbered ferroelectric liquid crystal cellreact to the electric field of negative polarity (or positive polarity)to rotate to the spontaneous polarization direction Ps. The spontaneouspolarization direction Ps becomes opposite to liquid crystal molecule ofthe liquid crystal cell adjacent in the vertical direction and thehorizontal direction. On the contrary, the liquid crystal moleculesincluded in the odd-numbered horizontal line of the even-numberedferroelectric liquid crystal cell and the even-numbered horizontal lineof the odd-numbered ferroelectric liquid crystal cell react to theelectric field of positive polarity (or negative polarity) to rotate tothe spontaneous polarization direction Ps. The spontaneous polarizationdirection Ps becomes opposite to liquid crystal molecule of the liquidcrystal cell adjacent in the vertical direction and the horizontaldirection.

The alignment disposition process by rubbing shown in FIG. 12 can bereplaced with the alignment disposition process by ultraviolet rayexposure shown in FIG. 13. In this connection, the alignment films 3 and4 of the upper plate and the lower plate are exposed to the ultravioletray UV through the opening regions 1 a and 2 a of the masks 1 and 2, andare alignment-disposed as a portion of molecule arrangement of partexposed by the ultraviolet ray is uniformly changed. Thereafter, theinjection process of ferroelectric liquid crystal and the arrangementadjusting process of the ferroelectric liquid crystal by the process oflowering temperature disposition are performed. Then, the spontaneouspolarization direction Ps becomes opposite to liquid crystal molecule ofthe liquid crystal cell adjacent in the vertical direction and thehorizontal direction.

FIG. 14 illustrates a liquid crystal display according to the embodimentof the present invention. Referring to FIG. 14, the liquid crystaldisplay according to the embodiment of the present invention comprises aliquid crystal panel 142 having the ferroelectric liquid crystalmaterial injected therein and alignment-disposed by mask, a data driver141 for supplying data RGB to data lines D1 to Dm of the liquid crystalpanel 142, a gate driver 143 for supplying scan pulse to gate lines G1to Gn of the liquid crystal panel 142, and a timing controller 140 for ntimes-speed-driving (where n is a positive integer greater than two) thedata driver 141 and the gate driver 143.

Between two glass substrates of the liquid crystal panel 142, theferroelectric liquid crystal material is injected and the liquid crystalpanel is alignment-disposed so that the alignment direction becomesopposite between adjacent liquid crystal cells C1c in the vertical andthe horizontal direction by using the mask as shown in FIG. 12. The datalines D1 to Dm and the gate lines G1 to Gn formed on the lower glasssubstrate of the liquid crystal panel 142 are crossed vertically. TheTFT formed at each of the crossings of the data lines D1 to Dm and thegate lines G1 to Gn supplies data on the data lines D1 to Dm to theliquid crystal cell C1c in response to the scan pulse from the gatelines G1 to Gn. To this end, the gate electrode of the TFT is connectedto the gate lines G1 to Gn, and the source electrode is connected to thedata lines D1 to Dm. The drain electrode of the TFT is connected topixel electrode of the liquid crystal cell C1c. On the upper glasssubstrate of the liquid crystal panel 142, a black matrix, a colorfilter and a common electrode (not shown) are formed. Further, a storagecapacitor is formed at each liquid crystal cell C1c of the liquidcrystal panel 142. The storage capacitor is formed between the pixelelectrode of the liquid crystal cell C1c and a prior stage of gate lineor between the pixel electrode of the liquid crystal cell C1c and thecommon electrode line (not shown) to uniformly maintain voltage of theliquid crystal cell C1c.

The timing controller 140 multiplies by n frequencies ofvertical/horizontal synchronization signals V/H, and a main clock MCLK,and generates n times-speed gate control signal nGDC and n times-speeddata control signal NDDC whose the frequency is multiplied by n times ascompared with a reference frequency 60 Hz which scans a frame of pictureone time during one frame period to represent one screen by using the ntimes-multiplied vertical/horizontal synchronization signals V and H.The n times-speed gate control signal nGDC includes a gate start pulse,a gate shift clock, and a gate output signal. The data control signalDDC includes a source start pulse SSP, a source shift clock signal SSC,a source output signal SOE, and a polarity signal POL. The data driver141 converts video data RGB from the timing controller 140 into analoggamma voltage VPG and VNG and controls polarity of analog gamma voltagesupplied to adjacent data lines D1 to Dm with dot inversion form.

As shown in FIG. 15, the data driver 141 comprises a shift register 152subordinately connected between input line IL and the data line DL, afirst latch 151, a second latch 153, a digital to analog converter 154(hereinafter referred to as “DAC”), and a buffer 155. The shift register152 shifts the source start pulse SSP from the timing controller 140 inaccordance with source shift clock signal SSC to produce samplingsignal. Further, the shift register 152 shifts the source start pulseSSP to transfer carry signal CAR to the shift register 152 of nextstage. The first latch 151 samples digital video data RGB in accordancewith sampling signal received from the shift register 152, and thenprovides stored data RGB. The second latch 153 latches the data RGBreceived from the first latch 151, and then simultaneously provide thedata of 1 horizontal line in response to the source output signal SOEfrom the timing controller 140.

The DAC 154 converts the data RGB from the second latch 153 intopositive polarity analog gamma voltage VPG or negative polarity analoggamma voltage VNG in response to the polarity signal POL from the timingcontroller 140. The buffer 155 provides analog gamma voltage VPG and VNGreceived from the DAC 154 to the data line DL without signalattenuation. In FIG. 15, reference numeral ‘R’ equivalently representsline resistance between the data driver 141 and the data line DL.

The DAC 154 of the data driver 141, as shown in FIG. 16, comprises aP-decoder 162 for converting the data RGB from the second latch 153 intopositive analog gamma voltage VPG; a N-decoder 163 for converting thedata RGB from the second latch 153 into negative polarity analog gammavoltage VNG, and a multiplexer 161 for selecting one among outputs ofthe P-decoder 162 and the N-decoder 163 in response to the polaritysignal POL. Each multiplexer 161 selects output of the P-decoder 162when the polarity signal POL is high logic value, and selects output ofthe N-decoder 163 when the polarity signal POL is low logic value.Herein, odd-numbered multiplexer 161 connected to odd-numbered datalines while D1, D3, . . . , Dm−1 selects the output of the P-decoder 162and the output of the N-decoder 163 in response to non-converting signalof the polarity signal POL, even-numbered multiplexer 161 connected toeven data lines D2, D4, . . . , Dm selects the output of the P-decoder162 and the output of the N-decoder 163 in response to inverting signalof the polarity signal POL. Accordingly, opposite polarity of voltage issupplied to the odd-numbered data lines D1, D3, . . . , Dm−1 and theeven-numbered data lines D2, D4, . . . , Dm.

If the data control signal nDDC is generated as basis of two times-speedfrequency 120 Hz of the reference frequency 60 Hz, the polarity of thedata generated from the data driving circuit 141, as shown in FIG. 17,is inverted in a ½ frame (½ fr) period. Further, the polarity of thedata generated from the data driver 141 is inverted between adjacentliquid crystal cells C1c in the vertical and the horizontal direction.

The gate driver 143 includes a shift register generating scan pulse inresponse to n times-speed gate control signal nGDC from the timingcontroller 140 and a level shifter for shifting voltage of the scanpulse to level adaptive for driving of the liquid crystal cell C1c. Ifthe n-times-speed gate control signal nGDC is generated as basis of twotimes-speed frequency of the reference frequency 60 Hz, the liquidcrystal panel 142 is wholly scanned two times during about 16.7 ms.

If the gate driver 143 is driven with two times-speed and generates dotinversion data with two times-speed so that the data driver 141 issynchronized with the scan pulse, as shown in FIG. 17, all of theferroelectric liquid crystal cell C1c of the liquid crystal panel 142make light transmitted in the ½ frame period and make the light cut-offin the rest ½ frame period. That is, the liquid crystal panel 142 isdriven by sub-impulse driving wherein pictures are displayed during aportion of 1 frame period similarly to CRT and are not displayed duringthe rest portion of the 1 frame period

The ferroelectric liquid crystal display according to the embodiment ofthe present invention further comprises a frame memory (not shown) sothat identical data within one frame is supplied to liquid crystal paneln times in succession. The frame memory stores one frame of digitalvideo data RGB under control of the timing controller 140, which willthen be supplied to the data driver.

As a result, the aligning method of the ferroelectric liquid crystaldisplay and the ferroelectric liquid crystal display using the sameaccording to the embodiment of the present invention rubs adjacentferroelectric liquid crystal cells to opposite direction each other byusing mask and responds to electric field of mutually opposite polarityto control light and is sub-impulse-driven by multiple-speed driving.

As described above, the alignment method of the ferroelectric liquidcrystal display according to the present invention makes alignmentdisposition of the ferroelectric liquid crystal cells adjacent in thehorizontal and the vertical direction contrary by using mask and omitselectric field alignment disposition. Further, the liquid crystaldisplay using the alignment method supplies dot inversion data to theliquid crystal panel with n times-speed driving and wholly scans n timeswithin one frame to display video data with sub-impulse method. As aresult, the ferroelectric liquid crystal display according to thepresent invention can minimize color-inversion phenomenon irrespectivelyof viewing angle to provide wide viewing angle. When it displays movingpictures, since motion blurring or tailing phenomenon according to datamaintenance can be minimized, the present invention becomes adaptive forproviding moving pictures.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made in the present inventionwithout departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it isintended that the present invention cover the modifications andvariations of this invention provided they come within the scope of theappended claims and their equivalents.

1. An aligning method of a ferroelectric liquid crystal display,comprising steps of: disposing a first mask and a second mask, each ofwhich has opening regions and blocking regions arranged in alternatingfashion in vertical direction and horizontal direction corresponding toliquid crystal cells of the liquid crystal display; and injecting aferroelectric liquid crystal material within a liquid crystal panel;arranging the first mask on a first alignment film formed on an upperplate of the liquid crystal panel; rubbing the first alignment film ofthe upper plate through the first mask; arranging the second mask on asecond alignment film formed on a lower plate of the liquid crystalpanel; and rubbing the second alignment film of the lower plate in thesame direction as the rubbing direction of the alignment film of theupper plate through the second mask, wherein the opening regions of thefirst mask corresponds to the blocking regions of the second maskrespectively, and the blocking regions of the first mask corresponds tothe opening regions of the second mask respectively; wherein each of theopening regions is substantially the same area as a liquid crystal cell,the liquid crystal cell corresponding to an area of a pixel electrode;and wherein after the upper and lower plates are assembled, the firstand second alignment films are aligned in opposite directions eachother. 2-3. (canceled)
 4. The aligning method according to claim 1, thestep of disposing a first mask and a second mask, further comprising thesteps of: arranging the first mask having opening regions on a firstalignment film formed on an upper plate of the liquid crystal panel;photo-exposing the first alignment film of the upper plate with anultraviolet ray through the first mask; arranging the second mask havingopening regions on a second alignment film formed on the lower plate ofthe liquid crystal panel; and photo-exposing the second alignment filmof the lower plate through the second mask.
 5. The aligning methodaccording to claim 4, wherein each of the opening regions issubstantially the same area as a liquid crystal cell.
 6. The aligningmethod according to claim 1, wherein the opening and blocking regions inthe first and the second masks are arranged in an alternating fashion.7. The aligning method according to claim 1, further comprising stepsof: phase-transiting the ferroelectric liquid crystal material withinthe liquid crystal panel from an isotropic phase to a nematic phase bylowering temperature of the liquid crystal panel; and phase-transitingthe ferroelectric liquid crystal within the liquid crystal panel fromthe nematic phase to a smectic C phase by further lowering thetemperature of the liquid crystal panel.
 8. An aligning method of aferroelectric liquid crystal display, comprising steps of: aligning anupper plate of a liquid crystal panel by using a first mask having afirst plurality of opening regions patterned thereon; rubbing a firstalignment film of the upper plate through the first mask along a firstdirection; aligning a lower plate of the liquid crystal panel by using asecond mask having a second plurality of opening regions patternedthereon; rubbing a second alignment film of the lower plate through thesecond mask along the first direction, assembling the upper and lowerplates of the liquid crystal panel, such that the first and secondalignment films are aligned in opposite directions to each other; andinjecting a ferroelectric liquid crystal material between the assembledupper and lower plates of the liquid crystal panel, wherein the openingregions of the first mask corresponds to blocking regions of the secondmask respectively, and the opening regions of the second maskcorresponds to blocking regions of the first mask respectively; andwherein each of opening regions of the first and second masks issubstantially the same area as a liquid crystal cell, the liquid crystalcell corresponding to an area of a pixel electrode.
 9. A ferroelectricliquid crystal display, comprising: a liquid crystal panel having firstregions and second regions having rubbing directions that arerespectively aligned in different directions, wherein the first regionsand the second regions are alternately arranged in a vertical directionand horizontal direction of the liquid crystal panel; a ferroelectricliquid crystal injected into the liquid crystal panel; and amultiplied-speed driving circuit for driving the liquid crystal panelhaving the ferroelectric liquid crystal in accordance with a frequencymultiplying a predetermined reference frequency.
 10. The ferroelectricliquid crystal display according to claim 9, wherein each of the firstregions and the second regions are substantially the same size as aliquid crystal cell.
 11. The ferroelectric liquid crystal displayaccording to claim 9, wherein the liquid crystal panel comprises: anupper plate having first regions alternately arranged in a verticaldirection and horizontal direction; and a lower plate having secondregions alternately arranged in a vertical direction and horizontaldirection.
 12. The ferroelectric liquid crystal display according toclaim 9, wherein the multiplied-speed driving circuit comprises: atiming controller for multiplying n-times to the reference frequency(where n is a positive integer) to generate a data control signal and agate control signal based on the multiplied speed frequency; a datadriver for supplying one frame of data n times during one frame periodto the liquid crystal panel in response to the data control signal; anda gate driver for wholly scanning the liquid crystal panel n timesduring a frame period in response to the data control signal.
 13. Theferroelectric liquid crystal display according to claim 12, furthercomprising: a frame memory for storing the frame of data under thecontrol of the timing controller and for supplying the stored data tothe data driver.
 14. The aligning method according to claim 1, whereinthe liquid crystal panel has first regions corresponding to the openingregions of the first mask and second regions corresponding to theopening regions of the second mask, the first regions and the secondregions are respectively aligned in opposite directions.
 15. Thealigning method according to claim 8, wherein the liquid crystal panelhas first regions corresponding to the opening regions of the first maskand second regions corresponding to the opening regions of the secondmask, the first regions and the second regions are respectively alignedin opposite directions.
 16. The aligning method according to claim 14,wherein the first regions and the second regions are alternatelyarranged in a vertical and horizontal direction of the liquid crystalpanel.
 17. The aligning method according to claim 15, wherein the firstregions and the second regions are alternately arranged in a verticaland horizontal direction of the liquid crystal panel.
 18. The aligningmethod according to claim 14, wherein the first regions and the secondregions are substantially the same area as the liquid crystal cell ofthe liquid crystal panel.
 19. The aligning method according to claim 15,wherein the first regions and the second regions are substantially thesame area as the liquid crystal cell of the liquid crystal panel.